Clutch plate



H. v. REED CLUTCH PLATE Nov. 6,

Filed Feb. 20. 1947 Patented Nov. 6, 1951 Y 2,573,931*YV I 4.CLUTCH PnA'rn `Harold V. Reed, Chicago, Illgassignorvto Borg- Warner Corporation, Chicago, Ill., a corporation` of Illinois t Application-February 20, 1947,v Serial No'.l 729,771

lo., A.

'Ihel present invention relates to clutch driven plates of thetype which are adapted to be packed between clutch engaging members for connecting driving and driven shafts of motor vehicles;

and therlike. 'Y Y.

, 4The primary aim of this invention is t0 simplify the` construction'of clutch driven plates such as contemplated herein, and to improve the operation and eiiiciency of such'clutch driven plates.

A principal objectl hereof resides in the provisionI Of@ novelvand edective arrangement for mounting the friction means of a clutch plateA whereby said friction means are cushioned for relative axial yieldability'when packed between the driving-members of a clutch' assembly.

Another principal object hereof is to provide a lplurality of inherently or wholly yieldable mounting devices of a composite characterfor attaching the clutch platel friction means on an unyielding intermediate disc-likeplate'which in turn is supported by the clutch hub.

.Still another principal object is the provision ofV a clutch plate wherein at leastone ofthe frictionmeans comprisesa plurality of non-ferrous metallic sections which are attached to an intermediate plate of the clutch assembly, each said section carrying a cushion which is secured to and supports an annular member of friction facing material.

1A further object is to provide a novel composite friction facing mounting device which is fabricated from a plurality of thin sheet metalv parts and which is adapted for attachment to the rim ofthe intermediate plate'of a clutch assembly whereby to yel-dably support Va friction facing' member of a fibrous type.v

AIn the clutch plate arrangement contemplated herein a plurality of sheet metal composite structures are carried by a central or intermediate hub supported disc-like plate. One metal member of eacl'r'composite structure is arranged to be frictionally engaged by a clutch driving member and the other member of the structure is attached to a'friction'facing annulus which is adapted to be engaged vbyy the other clutch driving member. Differently stated lduring clutch engagement, the frictionfacing annulus is engaged with the clutch pressure plateV and al metal member 'of the compos'te'structure is in frictional contact with the ilywheel. .y i

'Additional objects, aims and advantages of the invention contemplated herein will be apparent ItV` ispreferredA to accomplish the numerous objects 'of this invention, and to practice the same, in'substantially the manner hereinafter fully described and as more particularly pointed out in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specication.

.In the drawings:

Fig.l is a fragmentary elevation of a clutch` driven plata-with portions brokenaway, showing details of the 'present improvements.,

Fig. 2' is a section taken Aalong the plane of line 2-2 on Fig. 1.

-Fig. 3 is a section taken along the plane of line 3-3 on Figa-1. Y

-Fig. 4 is a fragmentary edge view ofthe improved clutch plate, viewed from thev plane of line 4 4 on Fig. l.

Fig. 5 is a viewsimilar to Fig. 4 showing a modif ed arrangement of the clutch driven plate contemplated herein.

rThe drawings are to be understood as being more or vless of a diagrammatic character for the purpose of disclosing typical or preferred forms of the improvements contemplated herein, and inr these drawings like reference characters identify the same parts in the diierent views. p

The driven clutch plate shown comprises a hub assembly unit which defines the central or inner zone of said plate and includes a hub I0 which has an annular flange II and a splined bore I2 adapting the clutch plate for slidable axial movement on a driven shaft (not shown). Also there is included in the hub assembly unit a pair of annular washers I3 and Ill which are carried bythe hub and extend outwardly therefrom on opposite sides of hub flange II, said washers being of a non-yieldable character. AIt will be seen the washer Id has a wider diameter than its companion washerA I3 and it extends beyond the periphery of hub ange II. This wide washer I 4 constitutes a disc-like intermediate plate between the hub and a friction facing member I8 of annular form which is spaced outwardly from the intermediate plate to occupy the outer zone of the clutch plate. A-plurality of registering openings are made in washers I3 and Iii and also inhub ange I I, in which openings compressed helical springs I5 are seated. Retainer pins Iiitie the washers I3 and I4 together for simultaneous movement and for frictional engagement with the inner region of hub flange I I, and the intermediate barrel-like body portions of said pins I6 pass through recesses I'I at the margin Aof hub flange I I. This arrangement permits limited relative rotative movement between the washers and the hub flange and defines a torsional vibration dampener arrangement in the hub assembly unit.

The mounting devices for the annular friction facing member i8 in this instance are preferably compound members comprising aplurality of separate' wavy orf undulated cushion members L9 of generally' rectangular contour which arev arranged in annular array alongside the facing member $8 to which they are attached by rivets 22. rThese cushion members are secured tocarriers 23 which comprise a plurality of thin sheet metal sections or segments' arrangedf with-theirr major portions or outer regions' v alongside the: cushions I9. As seen, the major portions of these carriers have approximately` thei same. corrtour and dimensions as the respective cushions to which they are attached by rivets 24'.'

Each sheet metal carrier 23 has a smooth outer surface which confronts a smooth radial surface ofa flywheel and is adapted to be moved towardxandfrictionally contact theY flywheel sur-` f-ace when urged thereagainst by the conventional pressure plate when the clutch isengaged. z5 These carriers-are fabricated from a thinsheet metal stock such for example as bronze` or-other non-ferrous metal. For the purpose of accommodating the upset heads of rivets 2K4 aswell a's to spacey each carrier axially from the adja- I cent cushion member, said carriershave a plurality of Vapertured' embossments 25 which extend toward the cushion members and are formed in the manner shown in Figs. 2 and 5, for receiving and seating the heads of vsaid rivetst5 so= that saidV rivet-headsware set in from the outer surface of" the carrier segments to prevent contact with the flywheel surface. Rivets'Si at tach reduced` inner regions 23a of carriers 23' to the cuter marginal portion of intermediate washer plate I4.

The transverse end regions or radialmargins of carriers 23 are shouldered or oset axially inward? froml the planes of the metal? plates'comprising said carriers for the purpose of' provid-A 4. ing inwardly positionedlands 26 lying alongside of and confronting the proximate ends of the-'undulated cushions I9. The details-of this arrangement are graphically shown in Fig. 4 wherein it israpparent the left endmargin of the cushion I9 contacts the frictionfacingl memberl 82, whilst the right hand end margin of the` cushion contacts the adjacent land 26 of the carrier. It will thus'be apparent that those lands 2-6- on carriers 23 prevent the ends of cushions coming into direct contact with the smooth radial VsurfaceY of the ywheel when the driven clutch plate is packed'between the clutch driving members. Furthermore, theseoset regionsl which define the lands 2i?v will also-have a tendency to atten during the final stage of the flattening movement of the cushions, thereby imparting a two stage cushioning effect to the clutch plate assembly.

It is contemplated that the plane' outerl surfaces` of the sheet metal carriers 23, which lie close to the flywheel surface', may be coated with friction' facing material 2'1- which iscementedH to-said surfacesv as shown in Fig. 5", thus eliminating the use of'rivets to attachthe friction facing material tothe forward or flywheel side ofthe clutch plate. Furthermore, the arrangement shown in- Fig. 5 permits the use ofi friction facing members of thinnerdimen'sions than'r is the usualpractice, andv also the carriers' may" be formed from sheet metal other than a nonferrous metal.

In the fabrication of cushion members I9, it is preferred to separately form these parts from thin clock-spring steel stock within a range of thickness between .020 to .031, preferably .025 thick. Experimentation and tests have indicated Ythat Vprei-tempered,` clock-spring steel. Rockwell402-44, C sca-le, is` a metalL stock that is particularly well adapted for the purpose of providing the cushion members contemplated in the-present improvements. Further, the carrier segments 23 of thin sheet metal stock may have cer-taimyieldable characteristics and may be made'fromstockwithin the same range of thickness as thecushion members. Thus it is ap- ,parent these`V composite friction facing mounting devices are structurally separate from each other; they are of an inherently yieldable character throughout their cushion sections; and furthermore, they are of light weight. whereby spinningor'rotational inertia of the outer region: of the' clutchy plate assembly has beenmateriallyv` reduced. Y

While the present invention has been disclosed-vr in its present preferred` forms or embodiments,

it will bev apparent to persons skilled in thel art that changes and.r modifications` may bev made therein without departingv from thespirit orf `scope thereof. It is aimedV Vin the appended claims to kcover all suclichanges and modifica-V tions. Y

I claim:

1. In a clutch driven plate, a friction facing'? ring and, a yi'el'dable composite structure -for'- mounting:` said friction facingring on the central disc of` aclutch plate assembly to be packedbetween a pair of clutch driving members, said? composite structure. comprising a yieldable thinf4 flat sheet metal section. for attachment to a nonyielding member' ofi' the` clutch plate assembly;.

4said yieldable flat. sheet metal section havingfa plane smoothsurface for frictionalengagementv with a clutch driving member; aperturedembossments on said; flat section projecting froml the. side thereof opposite said plane smooth surface;

a structurally. separate thin: yieldable; undulatedz.

cushionsection spaced outwardly from the cenitral disc and lying alongside said flat, section.

and being spaced therefrom'by said embossments;

" and rivets anchoring said cushion.v section tosaid at section with theV rivet heads seatedin said embossments, said cushionsection dening--the--A sole means for supporting said friction facingring on the-central` disc in positionv for engage'- a ment between clutch driving members.

ing said frictionfacing member on said radialV plate, .said composite structures comprisingyeldableV thin flat` sheetmetal.` carrierv sections attach'ed to said radial plate and. extending. out.-

Ward' therefrom along side of, and spacedaxially.' from'said friction'facing member, said" carrien sections having plane smooth surfaces on the sides thereof'remoteto saidfrictionfacing member; apertured'l embossmentson said carrier. sections projectingfrom the sides thereof,V toward. said friction facing member;y structurally separate thin yieldable'undulated' cushion sections between said carrier sections and said friction facing member and being spaced from said carrier sections by said embossments; and rivets attaching said cushion sections to said carrier sections with the rivet heads seated in said embossments, said friction facing member having axial yieldability relative to said carrier sections when packed between clutch driving members.

3. A driven clutch plate adapted to be packed between clutch driving members, said driven plate comprising a radial non-yielding disc; an annular friction facing member spaced radially outward beyond the periphery of said disc; and a plurality composite devices for mounting said facing member on said disc, said composite devices comprising a plurality of structurally independent iiat carriers of thin sheet metal stock separately secured to said disc, said carriers projecting outward along side said facing member; a plurality of structurally independent undulated cushion sections spaced outward from said disc and interposed between said carriers and said facing member; means securing said cushion members to said facing member; and means securing said cushion sections to said carriers for support solely by said carriers; said .composite devices being adapted under clutch packing pressure to effect relative axial yieldability of said facing member with respect to said carriers.

4. A driven clutch plate adapted to be packed between a pair of clutch driving members, comprising a hub member; a radially extending nonyielding disc-like plate carried by said hub member; an annular friction facing member spaced outward beyond the periphery of said radial plate for engagement by a clutch driving member; and a plurality of composite structures for mounting said friction facing member on said radial plate, said composite structures comprising structurally independent thin iiat sheet-metal carrier sections attached to said radial plate and extending outward therefrom alongside of and spaced axially from said friction facing member; apertured embossments on said carrier sections projecting from the sides thereof toward said friction facing member; structurally separate thin yieldable undulated cushion sections between said carrier sections and said friction facing member and being spaced from said carrier sections by said embossments, said cushion sections being spaced radially outward from said disc; means attaching said friction facing member to said cushion sections; and rivets attaching said cush-l ion sections to said carrier sections with the rivet heads seated in said embossments for supporting said cushions solely by said carriers, thereby adapting said friction facing member for axial yieldability relative to said carrier sections when packed between the clutch driving members.

5. A driven clutch plate adapted to be packed between opposed clutch driving members, said driven plate comprising a radial non-yielding disc-like plate; a single annular friction facing member spaced radially outward beyond the periphery of said radial plate; and a plurality of composite cushioning devices for mounting said facing member on said radial plate, said composite cushioning devices comprising a plurality of structurally independent flat carriers of thin yieldable sheet metal stock secured to the outer peripheral region of said radial plate, said carriers projecting outward alongside said single facing member and unattached thereto; a pluralityl of undulated structurally independent cushion sections of thin yieldable sheet metal stock interposed between said carriers and said single facing member; radially extending lands at the end regions of said carriers arranged in opposition to the radial end regions of said cushion sections and offset to the planes of the body portions of said carriers; means securing said cushion members to said single facing member; and means securing said cushion sections to said carriers; said composite devices under clutch packing pressure effecting relative axial yieldability of said facing member, and the flat faces of said carrier sections being adapted for frictional surface contact with a clutch driving member under clutch packing pressure.

6. A yieldable composite structure for mounting an annular friction facing member on a clutch plate assembly to be packed between clutch driving members, said composite structure comprising a structurally separate thin flat yieldable section for attachment to a non-yielding member of the clutch plate assembly, the major portion of said flat yieldable section having a plane smooth surface adapting the same for frictional engagement with a clutch driving member; and a structurally separate thin yieldable cushion section having a wavy form and attached to said at section and adapted to support the annular friction facing member for engagement with a second clutch driving member, said flat yieldable section having apertured embossments on one side and the cushion sections being spaced from the flat section by said embossments.

7. A clutch driven plate adapted to be packed between clutch driving members, said plate comprising a rigid central disc; an annular friction facing member spaced radially outward beyond the periphery of said disc; and a plurality of yieldable composite structures for mounting said facing member on said disc; said composite structures comprising a plurality of structurally independent thin sheet metal carriers separately secured to said disc, said carriers projecting outward from said disc with their outer regions in axially spaced relation to said facing member; apertured embossments on said carriers extending towards said facing member; a plurality of structurally independent undulated cushion sections of thin yieldable sheet metal stock spaced outward from said disc and interposed between said carriers and said facing member and secured to said facing member; said embossments spacing said cushion members from the body portions of said carriers; and rivets attaching said cushion sections to said embossments for support solely by said carriers, said composite structures adapted under the clutch packing pressure to effect relative axial yieldability of said facing member with respect to said carriers.

HAROLD V. REED.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,101,411 Nutt et al Dec. 7, 1937 2,264,192 Wellman NOV. 25, 1941 2,282,981 Jarrett May 12, 1942 2,309,950 Goodwin Feb. 2, 1943 2,321,821 Katcher June 15, 1943 2,327,884 Goodwin Aug. 24, 1943 2,333,308 Goodwin Nov. 2, 1943 2,448,879 Gamble Sept. 7, 1948 

